Jasmium plant named &#39;MonHariklia&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Jasmium  cultivar named ‘MonHariklia’ is disclosed, characterized by a long flowering season from April through October, strong, upright plant habit and good branching. Flowers are pure white when mature, and open fully. The new cultivar is a  Jasmium , suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Jasmium sambac

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘MONHARIKLIA’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a chance discovery in a backyardsetting by the inventor. In June 1997, the inventor, Eugenia Tzioroadiscovered an interesting whole plant, naturally occurring mutation.This interesting plant was found by the inventor in Volos, Greece, andtransferred to her home in Matthews, N.C.

Plant material of the new variety has not been easily reproduced, withfirst asexual reproduction occurring in Visalia, Calif. during 2011. Inthe meanwhile the plants were carefully controlled and held in aconfidential location, not accessible to the public. 2 additionalgenerations have been reproduced since 2011, and have shown that theunique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘MonHariklia’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘MonHariklia’ These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘MonHariklia’ as a new and distinct Jasmium cultivar:

1. Strong, upright plant habit.2. Better branching than the known species.3. Flowers open fully.4. Mature flowers are pure white, fading to red-purple.5. Longer bloom season, typically April through October. Longer withwarm weather.6. Terminal clusters with up to 8 flowers per inflorescence.

COMPARISON TO PARENT VARIETY

The true parent variety is unknown.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘MonHariklia’ is best compared to the commercial variety Jasmium sambac‘Grand Duke’, unpatented. Plants of the new cultivar ‘MonHariklia’ aresimilar to plants of ‘Grand Duke’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘MonHariklia’ differ in thefollowing:

1. Plants of the new variety have a more upright plant habit. ‘GrandDuke’ plants are ungainly, nearly vining.2. Plant growth of the new variety is more controlled, compared to‘Grand Duke’.3. Flowers of the new variety open fully, whereas flowers of ‘GrandDuke’ never fully open outwardly.4. Flowers of the new variety mature to pure White, whereas flowers of‘Grand Duke’ remain Green-White.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a closeup of typical foliage and flowers of ‘MonHariklia’ grown outdoors inAzusa, Calif. FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a typical plant of‘MonHariklia’ grown outdoors in Azusa, Calif. The plant is approximately3.5 years old, and is planted in an approximately 3 gallon pot. Thephotographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colorsmay appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it isas accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘MonHariklia’ plants grown outdoors in Azusa,Calif. Plants are approximately 3.5 years old, in an approximately 3gallon container. Temperatures ranged from approximately 2° C. to 25° C.at night to 5° C. to 38° C. during the day. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Jasmium sambac ‘MonHariklia’-   Propagation:-   Time to rooting: Approximately 4 to 8 weeks at approximately 20° C.    to 30° C. from semi-hardwood cuttings.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous young roots. Older roots becoming    woody.-   Plant:-   Growth habit: Upright and outwardly spreading shrub.-   Height: Outdoors, after approximately 3.5 years: Approximately 80    cm.-   Plant spread: Outdoors, after approximately 3.5 years: Approximately    65 cm.-   Branching characteristics: Not free branching, approximately 2 to 3    new branches emerge from a pinch, angled approximately 25 to 45    degrees.-   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 10 to 20 cm.-   Number of lateral branches: Approximately 5 main lateral branches on    a 3.5 year old plant.-   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.5 to 1.2 cm.-   Lateral branch strength: Very strong, with some flexibility.-   Lateral branch color: Young branches between RHS Yellow-Green 144A    and 144B. Mature branches(more than 1 year) near RHS Grey-Brown 199C    striated with Greyed-Green 197D.-   Texture: Young stems densely and softly pubescent. Mature branches    striated, moderately rough.-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Average 24 to 30-   Foliage:-   Leaf:    -   -   Type.—Simple.        -   Arrangement.—Opposite, or evenly spaced triad. Rarely, 4            simple leaves emerging from same node.        -   Average length.—Average range 5.0 to 6.5 cm.        -   Average width.—Average range 3.8 to 4.5 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Margin.—Entire, very slight undulation to margin.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.        -   Appearance of top surface.—Moderately glossy.        -   Appearance of bottom surface.—Matte.        -   Leaf internode length.—Average range 3.0 to 4.5 cm.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.            Young foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Mature            foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage            under side: Near RHS Green 138A.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Main            vein near Greyed-Red 182C, laterals near Green 143C.            Venation color under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B.-   Petiole:    -   -   Petiole.—Length: Average 0.4 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm            Pubescence: Densely and softly pubescent Color: Upper            Surface Near RHS Green 143A Lower Surface Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144A.-   Bloom period:    -   -   Natural season.—April through October in Southern            California.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rotate, double trumpet shaped flowers, with            outwardly flared upper petals occur singly, or in clusters            of 2 to 3.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 3.0 cm.        -   Depth.—Approximately 3.9 cm.-   Flower:    -   -   Facing direction.—Out and up.        -   Diameter of entire flower.—Approximately 3.0 cm.        -   Depth of flower.—Approximately 2.0 cm.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning corolla, calyx            typically persists.        -   Fragrance.—Very strong, sweet jasmine scent occurs            consistently throughout all hours.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity.—2 individual corolla tubes present, one inside of            the other, forming a full double flower. Each corolla tube            with approximately 25 unfused petal segments each, emerging            from the tube opening.        -   Corolla tube.—        -   Tube length.—Approximately 1.0 cm.        -   Tube opening width.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Tube base width.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Color.—Inner surface at first opening: Near RHS Green-White            157D Outer surface at first opening: Near RHS Yellow-Green            145C Inner surface at maturity: Near RHS White 155A. Outer            surface at maturity: Near RHS White 155A. Inner surface at            fading: Near RHS White 155A, moderately streaked with            Red-Purple 59B. Tube opening is entirely Red-Purple 59A.            Red-Purple streaking increases with flower age. Outer            surface at fading: Near RHS Red-Purple 59B and 59A,            occurring in stripes.        -   Unfused petal segments.—        -   Length.—Approximately 1.0 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 1.0 cm.        -   Apex.—Obtuse, or mucronate, both apices occurring within one            flower.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Arrangement.—Rotate, overlapping.        -   Texture.—Glabrous upper and lower surfaces.        -   Appearance.—Moderately shiny upper surface, matte lower            surface.-   Color: Upper surface at first opening: Near RHS Green-White 157D.    Lower surface at first opening: Near RHS Green-White 157C. Upper    surface at maturity: Near RHS White 155A. Lower surface at maturity:    Near RHS White 155A. Upper surface at fading: Near RHS White 155A,    lightly to moderately flushed with Red-Purple 59B. Flushing    increases with flower age. Lower surface at fading: Near RHS White    155A, heavily flushed with Red-Purple 59B and 59A.-   Calyx/sepals:    -   -   Arrangement/shape.—Funnel shaped, upper ⅓^(rd) unfused.        -   Sepals per flower.—Average 10 fused into funnel shape ⅔rds            from base.        -   Unfused shape.—Narrow deltoid.        -   Length.—Entire calyx length approximately 1.5 cm, unfused            section approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Width.—Entire calyx width approximately 0.5 cm, unfused            section approximately 0.25 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Minute pubescence outer surface, inner surface            glabrous. Color: Upper Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 145A Lower            Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 145A.-   Peduncle: Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 0.2 cm. Color: RHS    Green 137B Texture: Densely and softly pubescent. Orientation:    Straight, occurring at no angle, arising directly from branch.    Other: Calyx like structure occurs at the upper portion of the    peduncle. Similar to the corolla within a corolla structure of the    petal arrangement, a second calyx like structure occurs at the base    of the ovary. For description purposes, this will be described as    the “Secondary Calyx” Secondary Calyx: Arrangement/Shape: Funnel    shaped, upper ½^(th) unfused. Sepals per flower: Average 5 fused    into funnel shape 50% from base. Unfused Shape: Narrow deltoid.    Length: Entire calyx length approximately 1.0 cm, unfused section    approximately 0.5 cm Width: Entire calyx width approximately 0.5 cm,    unfused section approximately 0.15 cm Apex: Acute Base: Fused    Margin: Entire Texture: Minute pubescence outer surface, inner    surface glabrous. Color: Upper Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 145A Lower    Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 145A.    -   -   Pedicel.—Length: Average approximately 0.8 cm Diameter:            About 0.15 cm. Texture: Densely and softly pubescent. Color:            RHS Green 137B Orientation: Straight.-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—5.        -   Filament length.—About 0.4 cm.        -   Filament color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C.-   Anthers: Length: About 0.1 cm Shape: Linear Color: RHS Greyed-Red    181B Pollen: Pollen production not observed.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Style.—Length: About 0.7 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 145C.        -   Stigma.—Shape: linear Color: RHS Green 144 D Ovary Color:            RHS Green 144 C.-   Other characteristics:-   Disease and pest resistance: Not observed to be susceptible nor    resistant to normal diseases and pests of Jasmium sambac.-   Drought tolerance: No drought tolerance.-   Temperature tolerance: Suitable for USDA zones 10 and 11-   Fruit/seed production: Not observed to date.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Jasmium plantnamed ‘MonHariklia’ as herein illustrated and described.